two years out of jail, cardenales is a rising middle manager at an electronics recycling company in westchester county, n.y., making $80,000 a year. he's proof that a liberal education in prison, or at least bard's degree, can pay off. moreover, says his boss, he represents a hidden national economic resource just begging to be tapped. >> look, we've got a hidden workforce out here, i'm talking about you all. >> reporter: in a job-challenged economy, virgil fisher is looking to hire, as the company he runs we-recycle! he runs we-recycle! expands. impressed by the ex-con grads of bard college's prison program who already work for him, he's looking to recruit more of them at woodbourne. this is the current crop of matriculants. >> don't lose sight about what this is all about. it's about business. it's about competing. it's about being able to win in a global economy. we hear all the time that when you go to prison, the only thing that you're learning how to do is to be a better criminal. and we have people who are coming out who are able to run supply chain, who are able to run human resources,